Skill Needs of Carpenters and Joiners for the Construction of Smart Buildings

Abstract

Carpenters and joiners form a significant segment of the workforce in the building industry. They are often among the first to arrive at construction sites and the last to leave, as they are involved in various stages of construction, from setting out building layouts to finishing works. The construction sector is currently experiencing rapid transformation due to emerging technologies in tools, materials, and processes, particularly in the area of digitalisation. This development necessitates a reassessment of traditional skill requirements. In addition, the introduction of new technologies has led to the continuous evolution of safety standards and regulations. This study therefore examined the skill needs of carpenters and joiners for the construction of smart buildings in Niger State, Nigeria. The population of 362 construction professionals (128 registered architects, 94 engineers, and 140 carpenters and joiners) were targeted for the study. 188 respondents were selected and used for the study. Data were collected using the Carpentry and Joinery Skills Instrument for Smart Buildings (CJSISB), administered in collaboration with registered professionals through a Google Scholar-based application. The instrument recorded a reliability index of 0.85, established using test-retest and Cronbach’s alpha statistics. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while one-way ANOVA was employed to test two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance using IBM SPSS version 26. Findings from the study on skills required for the use of structural insulated panels by carpenters and joiners in smart building construction revealed that nine skills were needed, with mean scores ranging from 3.69 to 3.93. The overall grand mean of 3.37 fell within the decision range of 2.50–3.49, indicating that all identified skills were considered necessary for the effective use of structural insulated panels in smart building construction. Based on these findings, it was recommended that government and relevant stakeholders in the construction industry should establish targeted training programmes aimed at enhancing knowledge and practical skills in the use of structural insulated panels and recycled materials for smart building construction among carpenters and joiners.